(CNN) - Sen. Rand Paul ended his quest Thursday to block a vote on the nomination of John Brennan to be CIA director after he received an answer from the Obama administration about his question on drones.

Paul's decision to back down cleared the way for a final Senate vote this afternoon, and the chamber confirmed Brennan in a 63-34 vote that crossed party lines.FULL POST

(CNN) – The decision to take to the Senate floor with questions on drones was a last minute one, Sen. Rand Paul explained in an exclusive interview with CNN Thursday, detailing how he wasn't totally prepared to remain standing for thirteen hours straight.

"We had no plan and I had the wrong shoes on, my feet were hurting the whole day," Paul told CNN Chief Congressional Correspondent Dana Bash, adding that since the Senate leadership typically decides who speaks on the Senate floor, it's often difficult to begin a traditional filibuster.FULL POST

Washington (CNN) - A bill that would toughen laws on gun trafficking and straw purchases of firearms got the OK from the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday to be sent on to the full chamber for consideration.

The measure would make it harder for Mexican drug cartels to get their hands on guns sold in the United States and would punish those buying firearms or ammunition for criminals, said panel chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont.

(CNN) - What was on the table Wednesday night when President Barack Obama and twelve GOP senators sat down for dinner? Aside from a major impasse over reducing the federal deficit, there was striped bass and filet of beef.

A special menu was created at Plume restaurant at the Jefferson Hotel in Washington for the event, based on their normal prix fixe offering, which costs $85 per person, excluding tax, tip, and beverages. Click here to see the special menu created for the dinner, or click past the jump to see what was offered.FULL POST

(CNN) – The dinner between President Barack Obama and a group of Senate Republicans on Wednesday - described by different attendees as "honest," "interactive," and "cordial" - launched the latest attempt by the chief executive to cultivate alliances with rivals who have stood opposed to his policy proposals.

On Thursday, Obama invited Rep. Paul Ryan and Rep. Chris Van Hollen, the top Republican and Democrat on the House Budget Committee, to lunch at the White House. And next week he'll attend meetings on Capitol Hill with the entire House and Senate Republican coalitions, along with members of his own party.FULL POST